Educational Sector : Post Lower secondary education

Vocational Schools (EPA.S.), established according to L. 3475/2006 (Government Gazette 146A/13.7.2006), fit in post lower secondary education. Vocational Schools enable learners to follow specialties not requiring a strong theoretical background; instead they mainly focus on practical training, in order to help students immediately join the labour market. Attendance is of 2-year duration and includes grades Α and Β. According to the provisions of Law 4186/2013 (Government Gazette A 193/17.9.2013) “Restructuring of Secondary Education and other provisions”, Vocational Schools (Epaggelmatikes Scholes – EPA.S.) attended by students who had completed first grade of Upper Secondary School (Epaggelmatika Lykeia or Lykeia ), cease to exist; the ones belonging to the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs will be abolished by September 15th 2014; the ones falling under OAED (Manpower Employment Organization) will be abolished by September 15th, 2015. Subsequently, grade Α of Vocational Schools belonging to the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs discontinued its operation in school year 2012-2013, while grade Β shall cease to operate at the end of school year 2013-2014.

HELLENIC MINISTRY OF LABOUR & SOCIAL SOLIDARITY

Co-financed by Greece and the European Union

INTERMEDIATE MANAGING BODY:

MANAGING AUTHORITY OF THE OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME “EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING”

HELLENIC MINISTRY OF CULTURE, EDUCATION AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS

The project entitled: “DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK” is implemented through the Operational Programme “Human Resources Development” and co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund – ESF) and the Greek state. The project’s Intermediate Managing Body is the Managing Authority of the Operational Programme “Education and Lifelong Learning” of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Education and Religious Affairs.